Training system and method for improving user knowledge and skills

ABSTRACT

A method for creating training systems including analyzing/mapping course requirements for evaluating required knowledge/skills according to mapped subjects and defining possible failure causes, wherein each failure cause represents knowledge/skill weakness relating a certain subject or general weakness, defining knowledge/skills target level correct/wrong answers in each subject as function of the number of users, preparing a question pool, wherein each question relates to a subject knowledge/skill and/or failure cause, preparing correct and wrong answers for each question, wherein each wrong answer is related to a specific sub-subject/subject and/or to a failure cause, defining an evaluation module for assessing user knowledge/skills level based on user&#39;s success in giving correct answers in comparison to predefined target levels and type of failure causes related to the user&#39;s wrong answers, and defining exercise module for selecting sequence of questions from predefined question set based on evaluations of user knowledge/skills level and detected failure causes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/IL02/00010, which has an international filing date of Jan. 6, 2002, and which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/260,588, filed Jan. 9, 2001.

The present invention relates in general to e-learning systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an e-learning model that allows individual tailoring of a self-learning computerized course for any given subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known study methods make use of written materials, relying on a user's discipline and drive to keep them working. Conventional review courses provide potential examinees with workbooks, which provide several hundred practice questions that the user can work through, as he/she prefers. At the end of these workbooks appear answers and explanations for the questions.

A major problem with these traditional approaches is that they do not, and cannot, force the user to study in a consistent, systematic and effective way. As a result, the effectiveness of studying changes from one user to another, or even the same user in different times, according to their mood, desire and drive. The danger with these conventional approaches is that the users tend not to develop a consistent problem-solving approach, but instead develop and utilize inefficient and undesirable study habits. Another disadvantage is that users also tend not to fully understand a question, and the reasons why one answer choice is correct, while the other answer choices are incorrect.

Existing systems and methods for work force planning and occupational re-adjustment have traditionally concentrated mainly on the manual analysis of an individual's skills, with little or no emphasis on a related job analysis or needs analysis of potential employers. Additionally, the current state of the art methods fails to link training resources and new training requirements as part of an overall approach.

There have already been proposed a certain solution in attempt to overcome these deficiencies. U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,808 disclose to an integrated system that enables developing training material, career paths or to determine an employee's qualifications, performance and comprehensive support for job and task analysis.

Another solution have been proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,087 providing a computerized learning approach that enables a user to improve their performance on multiple-choice exams. The invention forces examinees to practice their examination skills and subject matter knowledge in a systematic way.

Prior art methods, provided by a small number of tutorials, rely purely on statistical evaluation (the number of correct vs. incorrect responses). These tutorials do not, and cannot, provide any analysis regarding the reasoning behind incorrect responses, nor do they provide any kind of individually tailored program that adapts and re-adapts itself to the specialized needs of each student.

The present invention discloses a new concept for e-learning systems, which differentiate from prior art systems in the following aspects;

-   -   1. Prior art systems have no set of goals distinguishing between         the student's current level and the level which is required to         achieve these goals.     -   2. Prior art systems do not attempt to understand, diagnose and         self-improve upon the reasoning behind a student's mistakes.     -   3. Prior art systems do not map possible reasons for each         mistake, and then use a layered approach of analyzing all errors         in order to formulate a diagnostic conclusion.     -   4. Prior art systems do not perform an on-going analysis of a         student's progress throughout the learning process, identifying         gaps in knowledge and skill, and then continuously updating the         course level accordingly.     -   5. Prior art systems do not present exercises and exams on a         dynamic basis, according to specific student needs diagnosed by         the system.     -   6. Prior art systems do not rely on techniques of building a         list of questions and answers, for indicating a student's         weaknesses.     -   7. Prior art systems do not utilize the amount of time a student         spent to answer a question, in order to reach conclusions on the         reason why it took that amount of time to respond.     -   8. Prior art systems do not use hint requests to draw         conclusions regarding the reasons for requesting a hint     -   9. Prior art systems do not match the lesson contents or the         number and type of exercises with a pre-determined time frame.     -   10. Prior art systems do not adapt their tutorial program         according to a student's likelihood of improvement in specific         areas.     -   11. Prior art systems do not evaluate cognitive preferences in         order to tailor the teaching aids used for each student.     -   12. Prior art systems do not save all student responses         throughout the learning process, the amount of time he/she spend         to complete each section, his/her responses to each question and         the time taken to solve each problem.     -   13. Prior art systems do not structure a systematic tutorial         package that guides the student automatically though a course         that was designed specifically for him/her.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an e-learning system enabling to minimize the gap between the student's current knowledge and the knowledge needed for passing a particular exam successfully or for succeeding at a specific job—and to provide the student with the tools needed to do this effectively and efficiently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an in-depth analysis of each student's individual aptitude in 10's or even 100's of varying data elements and cognitive proficiencies.

The present invention main advantages and innovation are as follows:

-   -   1. The method in which the tutorial program is designed         according to pre-evaluation of course requirements. This         evaluation highlights everything required of the student in         preparation for a particular exam or job position (knowledge,         know-how, guiding principles, weaknesses, thought processes).         The requirements and goals, which are determined for each         student, are integrated into the interface of the course         program, which reflects the algorithm on which the course is         based.     -   2. The tutorial system according to the present invention         collects data on the reasoning behind a students incorrect         answers, and then performs a systematic analysis of the source         of the student's difficulty with specific exam questions. Based         on this analysis, the system then provides a tutorial program,         which will guide the student through the correct method for         selecting accurate responses.     -   3. A students proficiency is analyzed by looking, not only at         which questions were answered correctly or incorrectly, but also         at why a specific wrong answer was chosen over any other.     -   4. The system according to the present invention re-diagnoses a         students level over and over at every stage, not only following         final and mid-term exams presented throughout the course. The         system accomplishes this goal by presenting students with         various exercises throughout the program curriculum. In this         way, the tutorial adjusts itself on an ongoing basis, according         to a students current level at each stage of the course.     -   5. The lesson exercises presented to each student are selected         on a dynamic basis from a large pool of questions, according to         the students current level at any given stage and based on         his/her performance up to that time. During an exercise or exam,         the system is able to adapt questions, not only to the students         level (as is common with certain tutorial software), but also         according to the reasons for the particular students mistakes.         The program organizes and presents the following questions         accordingly—either within the same exercise or exam, or at the         next exercise stage.     -   6. The list of possible answers for each exercise or exam         question is organized in a way that each incorrect answer will         point to a different error in reasoning, thus making it possible         for the algorithm to analyze cognitive failures.     -   7. When preparing a student for an exam in which the amount of         time spent on each question or section is relevant, said time is         being measured. The system then analyzes the reasons why each         response took a particular amount of time, and reaches relevant         conclusions.     -   8. Certain tutorials offered by the present invention allow the         student to request a ‘hint’ to the correct answer. The system         analyzes and draws conclusions from the possible reasons for         requesting a hint to a specific question, and from the manner         wherein the hint was used (whether or not the correct response         was selected).     -   9. When preparing a student for pre-scheduled exams, the system         takes into account the time remaining before the exam (e.g. the         number of weeks left multiplied by the number of hours available         for study each week). The tutorial program (type and quantity of         exercises and exams) will follow the allotted time frame. At the         beginning of each section, the system will readjust itself         according to the time remaining before the exam.     -   10. The student's answers as well as the amount of time it takes         him/her to answer each question, will be analyzed and shall         provide a basis for constantly updating the students progress.         The system defines the pace of the lessons by focusing on areas         where the student has the best chances to improve (time invested         relative to improvement achieved).     -   11. Some of the present invention tutorial packages include a         system that is programmed to evaluate a student's cognitive         preference toward learning (audio/visual/textual) and to adapt         lessons to the preferred method.     -   12. The present invention learning system utilizes the         computer's ability to perform a multi-level analysis of a         student's progress at each stage of the tutorial.     -   13. Based on a students performance at each level, the system is         able to determine the best way to proceed in building a course         of development. The student then follows through the pages,         which change dynamically as the program analyzes and adapts         itself to the specialized needs of the student.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an e-tutorial platform is provided, which automatically tailors course subject matter, allowing the student to study independently using a system that adapts itself to his/her individual needs over and over at every stage.

The model can be implemented within a wide variety of useful applications:

-   -   Exam preparation—Standardized tests (SAT, GRE, GMAT), licensing         exams (the Bar, final accountancy exam or a driving license         theory test), School and University exams (from grade school         through high school and college).     -   Corporate training—Organizational cross-franchise employee         training and certification for banks, telecom service providers,         insurance companies, health service providers etc. It can also         be used for employee training courses, employee screening         procedures, on-the-job training, performance ratings, or         refresher courses.     -   Open studies—Network-based open studies for individual groups—in         a variety of areas, such as, investment portfolios, computer         program operating instructions and leisure activities.

The platform allows users to attend contemporary classes using an all-encompassing e-learning system that provides lessons, exercises, exams and personalized feedback—all customized to the individual capabilities, learning pace, motivation, and advancement potential of each and every user relative to the time remaining before the exam. This advanced learning system is based on the present invention's unique ability to analyze an individual user's aptitude level and to use this information in order to improve his/her study methods. The system adapts learning material and exercises to individual performance at each stage. In essence, the present invention system is an optimal learning tool for remote Internet studies—a sort of personal teacher that responds to individual student performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of a few preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein—

FIG. 1 is a general flow chart of the training method according the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow-chart of creating the training program according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow-chart of conducting interactive exercise and learning session according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the course structure organization according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow-chart of classifying user's wrong answers according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow-chart of evaluating student current knowledge according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow-chart of creating of a customized exercise and learning session of next stage according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a general block diagram of the training system according the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention's learning system is a self-teaching tool for its users. The system is based on two major principles:

-   -   1. The tutorial program is designed according to deep         pre-evaluation of course requirements. This evaluation process         defines all requirements such as knowledge, know-how, guiding         principles, weaknesses and thinking processes, which are needed         for preparing the student for a particular exam or job position.         The system uses this assessment in order to set goals for the         student and in order to identify the gap between the student's         current level and the level needed to attain these goals.     -   2. Analyzing each individual student's skills, knowledge and         weaknesses and adapting the training program to the individual         needs of each user. As a result, the system provides the users         with tailored programs by using different methods, according to         his/her prior knowledge of the material, expertise in answering         questions of various kinds, improvement pace, study methods,         time available for completion of studies, advancement potential         and personal motivation.

A general flowchart of the present invention's training program preparation and training method is illustrated in FIG. 1

The first phase of the training program preparation is a pre-evaluation process (phase A) of the course's requirements. Such a process includes (as illustrated in FIG. 2) the following stages:

-   Stage 1: a mapping procedure, which studies all information,     know-how, guiding principles etc., required for the course,     resulting in an organized structure of the course. FIG. 4     illustrates general hierarchical structure of the course; -   Stage 2: defining the final required target level of knowledge and     skills for the specific course. -   Stage 3: defining failure causes, which represent common weak points     relating to a specific subject or generally to the entire course     exam.

The next phase according to the present invention is the process of defining the exercising program (phase B) for the course. The process as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes:

Stage 4: writing pool of questions, which are related to the subject/subtopics/learning object, or failure cause, which were defined in previous stages.

Stage 5: writing set of answers for each written question, wherein each answer reflects at least one failure cause relating to a subject/subtopics/learning object.

Stage 6: determining set of goals for each course level based on the final goals of the course and adapted for the specific subjects of the course current stage.

According to further improvement of the present invention, it is suggested to prepare set of hints for each question. Such hints indicate of specific failure cause relating the respective question.

In case the student requests for hints during the exercise session, the system provides him with the respective hint. If the user selected the right answer after receiving a specific hint, the system can deduce that the student has difficulties relating the respective failure cause. Such conclusion influence the system evaluation of the student current level of knowledge and skill as will be further explained down bellow.

Based on the mapping of the required knowledge and expertise, an initial diagnostic test (assessment test), for testing the students aptitude strengths and weaknesses, is developed (see FIG. 3 step 10).

The system analyses the student's answers as well as the actual time spent for answering each question. This exam provides the evaluation data of student knowledge skill level in comparison with final course goals, thus it is possible to tailor an individual tutorial program for each student (see step 12 in FIG. 3).

Then, the system activates an interactive learning session, intended to provide the student with knowledge and skills in accordance with his current learning level (see step 14 in FIG. 3).

The learning session is followed by an exercising session (see FIG. 3 step 16) for training the student in the relevant subject according to the pre-evaluation status as analyzed in the assessment exam or according to evaluation status as analyzed in the previous exercising session (see step 22 in FIG. 3).

At the end of each exercising session, the user answers are analyzed by the answer classification module 40 (see FIG. 8), for evaluating user's current level. First the answers are classified as correct/wrong (FIG. 3 step 18), at the next stage (step 20) the wrong answers are classified according to failure cause and subjects, see further details of classification process in FIG. 5

In accordance to the answers' classification, the system evaluates student current knowledge/skill level in respective subjects, using evaluation module 42 (see FIG. 8). The evaluation process is further detailed in FIG. 6: the system detect all wrong answers related to the same subject or failure cause and calculates user grade in each subject accordingly. In case the user received hints during the excising session, the system calculates user grade in accordance with the respective failure cause of the given hint. The user performance is compared with the pre-determined target values of user's number of wrong answers in each subject of failure cause.

As a result of this analysis, the system determines an evaluation of the user in each subject of the respective course stage.

Throughout the tutorial, the system will continuously test and re-evaluate the student's progress in order to update the pace of the new material introduced and reposition the student along the learning path. Based on said evaluation, the system creates the next customized learning and exercising sessions (step 24 in FIG. 3). As seen in FIG. 7, a learning session is not required in all stages. The system examines the users current level in comparison with the knowledge/skill target level of the current course stage. If the student meets with the requirements of the current stage, the system activates the next course level learning and exercising session, otherwise the system further checks according to student current level whether another learning session is required in the relevant subject or just a further exercise session is required. The learning/exercising objects of the next session are determined in accordance to evaluation of users level in each subject and further analysis of the failure causes which were detected as problematic, as reflected in user answers or requested hints.

The user's evaluation is further used for creating a detailed feedback report for the user benefit Such a report includes information on the user's knowledge/skill weakness relating to relevant subjects and personalized guidelines. (See step 32 FIG. 3.).

The key to this program lies in the multi-level analysis of a student's weaknesses, which is subsequently integrated into an individual teaching package that will guide the student in learning how to select the correct answers. The student's answers' analysis is based not only on whether they are correct or incorrect, but also on the nature of the errors (failure cause). The assumption is that the fact that a student chose a particular wrong answer over another reflects a specific weakness in the student's knowledge of the material. In this way, the program focuses on the general weaknesses in a students knowledge and targets the specific source of this limitation.

The present invention learning program is a platform into which varying course subjects matter can be integrated. The flexible developing program engine allows different elements (i.e. homework, exercises, exams etc.) to be added or altered at any time.

Specifications

Pre-Evaluation of Course Requirements

The pre-evaluation of course requirements is performed for each exam/job position separately. It provides a complete mapping of the expected requirements from the student/employee, in order to guarantee success in course examination or job projects. The pre-evaluation phase includes the following processes:

-   -   Mapping required knowledge—mapping the knowledge and expertise         required from the student/employee in order to succeed in the         exam/job.     -   Mapping required know-how—as opposed to the required         knowledge—mapping the know-how required from the         student/employee in order to succeed in the exam/job.     -   Analyzing guiding principles—determining the guiding principles         needed for succeeding in the job or in the exam.     -   Analyzing recurring weak points—Locating and analyzing weak         points, which have effect on the job or exam success.     -   Analyzing the thinking process of experts in comparison to the         thinking process of new students/employees—in order to         characterize the desired thinking processes and determine the         patterns and tips based on experts skills and experience.     -   Organizing knowledge and expertise subjects scale from easy to         difficult—building various levels of study from the basic and         simple to the difficult and complex, in order to develop the         correct thinking patterns and reinforce the student confidence.

Throughout the course the student's tutorial program is continuously restructured with dynamic lessons and exercises that are updated according to his/her needs, based on the following criteria:

-   -   The students aptitude level within each subject;     -   The students progress & pace;     -   The student's chances of improvement in each subject (progress         vs. investment);     -   Motivational considerations;     -   The time remaining before the exam/training is completed;         Assembling a Pool of Questions for Providing the System with         Diagnostic Abilities.

The algorithm's ability to analyze and evaluate each student separately is a result of a wide variety of questions available for each subject, which is required for performing a specific job or for passing a particular test. The pool of questions is composed by a group of subject experts, and the questions are phrased in a way that enables the algorithm to diagnose a student's cognitive errors. This provides the system with the information needed to customize a learning program and further to update it through the exercise session according to the user's progress.

The student is provided with several answers to each question that tests a specific thinking process or knowledge. The student is asked to select the answer that he/she believes is most correct. The field experts, who have written the questions, have also placed several incorrect responses, in addition to the correct one. Marking any one of the incorrect responses indicates cognitive failure or a lack of understanding of a specific theory (“failure cause”.(Essentially, every incorrect answer reveals a specific weakness, which most likely corresponds with the specific reasoning, which led the student to select that particular incorrect response.

To each question is attached a data file, which allows the algorithm to collect information. Moreover, each data file specifies a question's difficulty level, recommended answering time (needed incase of teaching efficient methods for problems solving, which is required for time-limited exams), topic, proficiency needed for answering quickly and correctly, possible reasons for marking each incorrect response, possible reasons for exceeding the recommended time limit etc . . .

The data collected by a student's responses is continuously aggregated and updated. The more different indicators of failure causes are exposed, the more accurately the system will be able to diagnose the students limitations and weaknesses. Throughout the e-tutorial process the student will perform exercises and will be examined on the covered material. The answers and the time needed to respond will be analyzed and shall provide a basis for constantly updating the student's progress. Based on this, the system will design a completely individual tutorial program for each student.

It is important to note that the user receives, not only a statistical analysis, but also operative recommendations on how to eliminate weaknesses and improve the specific points of weakness that were diagnosed by the system, based on the deep cognitive analysis. The present invention provides the user with a dynamic exercise program that is tailored to systematically tutor the student in those areas where lack of knowledge is most significant.

Operating Principles of the System

The basis of the system lies in a unique processing algorithm that evaluates each student's individual level, know-how, time schedule, improvement pace and cognitive preferences for each topic. Based on analysis of these critical aspects, the system builds an individual tutorial program for each student, which includes customized lessons and exercises.

The tutorial program is built and then updated based on two levels:

-   -   1. General learning program—The system evaluates the student's         diagnostic test performance and the time remaining before         his/her exam, against data already specified in the system, such         as: minimum knowledge necessary to complete the desired course,         the optimum and minimum time necessary to learn each topic         (according the student's starting level), a student's chances         for improvement in each subject, etc. The output is a         personalized tutorial package which will specify which         lessons/partial lessons the student shall study, how much time         will be allotted for each lesson, the number of exercises and         their level of difficulty, and the maximum possible deviation         from the time schedule of a particular lesson or exercise.         Throughout the learning process, with each action performed by         the student, his/her level and pace will be re-evaluated.     -   2. Tutorial program for a specific subject—Each specific topic         from within a student's general learning program includes         exercises that are determined by the general learning program.         After analyzing the students performance and progress, the         system will determine whether he/she is ready to advance to the         next exercise/learning level, or whether it is necessary to         further guide, tutor or exercise the student in areas wherein         the student knowledge is still lacking.

The processing algorithm is able to analyze a student's progress as a result of a wide variety of questions available for each subject. The questions are compiled by experts, based on the requirements specific to the exam (see “pre-evaluation of course requirements” above).

While the above description contains many specifities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations that are within its scope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. A computer based method of training a user in a given subject comprising: providing the user through a computer interface a set of questions on the given subject, wherein the questions and their associated answers are predefined and stored in a database; evaluating wrong answers the user provided to the questions; correlating sets of wrong answers to the predefined questions in order to determine a Failure Cause, wherein a specific wrong answer is associated with a specific Failure Cause, which Failure Cause is selected from a list of possible Failure Causes; if misunderstanding or misapplication of a principle or concept within the given subject is determined to be the Failure Cause, providing the user with a computer based lesson focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a computer based lesson focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept includes providing a computerized tutorial on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a computer based lesson focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept includes providing a set of questions focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept.
 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising evaluating answers the user provides to the set of questions focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept.
 5. A computer based system for training a user in a given subject comprising: a digital memory; a human interface; and a computing unit adapted to evaluate wrong answers the user provided to a set of questions which were stored in a database and presented to the user through the human interface, said computing unit further adapted to correlate sets of wrong answers to the questions in order to determine a Failure Cause, wherein a specific wrong answer is associated with a specific Failure Cause selected from a list of possible Failure Causes, and if misunderstanding or misapplication of a principle or concept within the given subject is determined to be the Failure Cause, to provide the user with a computer based lesson focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the computing unit is adapted to provide a lesson focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept by providing a computerized tutorial focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept.
 7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the computing unit is adapted to provide a lesson focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept by providing a set of questions focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principles or concept.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the computing unit is further adapted to evaluate answers the user provides to the set of questions focused on the misunderstood or misapplied principle or concept. 